Convertible packer and tubing anchor



Sept. 25, 1962 E. H. CLARK, JR., ETAL 3,055,431 CONVERTIBLE PACKER ANDTUBING ANCHOR Filed. Nov. 14, 1958 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I Fl Ga IllaEZRA/55f If. 649166372.

WALL/19M D. M YEes INVENTORS.

rime/V575.

Sept. 25, 1962 E. H. CLARK, JR., EI'AL 3,055,431

CONVERTIBLE PACKER AND TUBING ANCHOR Filed Nov. 14, 1958 a Sheets-Sheet2 /VXX/Y/ p d p- 44 WLL/HM. D. Myses INVENTORS BY WWW Sept. 25, 1962 E.H. CLARK, JR., EI'AL 3,05

. CONVERTIBLE PACKER AND TUBING ANCHOR Filed NOV. 14, 1958 5Sheets-Sheet 3 fl G'a 40 E6062 PV/ZL/AM 17. MYERS INVENTORS 3,055,431(IONVERTHBLE PACKER AND TUBING ANCHQR Earnest H. Clark, Jr., and WilliamD. Myers, Downey, (Ialifi, assignors to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., LosAngeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 14, 1953, Ser.No. 773,943 16 Claims. (til. 166-4140) The present invention relates tosubsurface well bore apparatus, and more particularly to well packer andanchor apparatus for performing diverse operations in the well bore.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is capableof functioning as a well packer in performing certain desirableoperations in the well bore, such as squeezing, formation fracturing,treating or testing, and of thereafter being converted, while in thewell bore, to an anchor for the tubing string to which the apparatus isattached in the event the well is to be pumped, in order that the tubingstring can be placed in tension to eliminate tubing buckling andbreathing that would otherwise result from the reciprocation of the pumpand the string of sucker rods attached thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus convertiblefrom a well packer to an anchor while in the well bore, therebyeffecting substantial economies by saving a round trip that wouldotherwise be necessary in removing a packer from the well bore and thenrunning an anchor thereinto.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus thatfunctions as a packer during swabbing of the tubing string to which theapparatus is attached, thereby eliminating the need for swabbing orremoving the fluid in the annulus around the tubing, and insuring thatthe load of fluid in the annulus is not imposed on the producingformation, the apparatus then being convertible to an anchor, withoutremoving the apparatus from the well bore, to secure the tubing stringin the well bore with the packing element in ineffective position.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus capableof being converted from a well packer to an anchor while in the wellbore, the apparatus being readily retrievable from the well borewhenever desired.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a formin which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will nowbe described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that suchdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURES 1 and la together constitute a combined side elevational viewand longitudinal section through an apparatus embodying the invention,with the parts disposed in position for lowering the apparatus in a wellcasing, FIG. 1a constituting a lower continuation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and In on a reduced scale showingthe apparatus in operation as a well packer anchored in packed-offcondition against the well casing;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 disclosing the apparatus converted toan anchor for securing the apparatus in the well casing;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, illustrating the apparatus incondition for removal from the well casing under emergency releaseconditions;

'FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along the line 55 on FIG. 1;

3,55,43l Patented Sept. 25, 1962 the 6 is a cross-section taken alongthe line 66 on r 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 7-7on FIG. la;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the control slot or groove portion of theapparatus.

The apparatus A illustrated in the drawings is a well packer, which isconvertible to an anchor whenever desired. The apparatus is loweredthrough a well casing B on a tubular string C, such as a string oftubing extending to the top of the well bore, to the desired location atwhich it is to be set within the well casing. It is also capable ofbeing removed from the well casing after having been set therein.

The apparatus includes a central tubular body 10 having a lower threadedpin 11 for attaching it to a threaded box 12 of a lower tubing 13 thatmay extend downwardly in the well casing to any desired depth. The upperend of the body member 10 is threadedly attached to an upper body memberextension 10a thereof having a threaded box 14 for securing the bodymember to the lower pin end 15 of the tubing string C, which extends tothe top of the well bore.

As specifically disclosed, the apparatus A is capable of being securedto the well casing against upward movement therewithin. Thus, an upperset of circumferentially spaced segmental slips 16 is disposed aroundthe body, these slips being mounted in longitudinal slots 17 in a slipring or sleeve 18 slidable on the body 10. The lower portion 19 of eachslip is constituted as an anchor having external wickers or teeth 20facing in an upward direction, which are adapted to embed or dig in theWall of the well casing B. Above the anchor portion, each slip has adrag portion 21 adapted to frictionally slide along the Wall of the wellcasing, the friction force being provided by one or a plurality ofhelical compression springs 22 engaging the base of the groove 17 anddisposed in sockets 23 in the drag portion and engaging the basethereof. Outward shifting of the upper portions of the slips is limitedby engagement of their upper terminals 24 with the depending rim 25 of astop ring 26 suitably secured to the slip ring 18, as by means of one ormore longitudinal extending screws 27. Such outward movement is alsolimited by an encompassing ring 28 disposed in external grooves 29provided between the drag and anchor portions of the slips. To insurejoint longitudinal movement of all of the slips 16 in the well casing,the lower portion of the slip ring has an outwardly directed flange 30adapted to engage the encompassing ring 28. Thus, during upward movementof the slip ring 18 With the body 10 of the tool, the flange 30 willengage the encompassing ring 28 and shift it against the upper sides ofthe grooves 29, to carry all of the slips 16 upwardly with the slipring. Joint downward movement of the slips is secured by virtue ofengagement of the stop ring 26 with their upper terminal portions 24.

It is to be noted that the springs 22 urge the drag portions 21 of theslips outwardly so that they have flat or surface engagement with thewall of the well casing. At this time, the anchor portions 19 aredisposed in an inward position in which their wickers or teeth 20 arefree from engagement with the wall of the well casing, such portionsthus being disposed in a retracted position. The anchor portions areadapted to be shifted outwardly into engagement with the well casing byan expander 32. slidably mounted on the body 10. This expander has anexternal expander surface 33 inclined in an upward and inward directionadapted to engage companion surfaces 34 on the interiors of the anchorportions 11 of the slips 16. When the expander 32 moves upwardly it willengage the slip surfaces 34 and rock the slips 16 on the casing to shiftthe anchor portions 19 outwardly and secure their teeth 20 against thewall of the well casing, while the drag portions 21 shift inwardly, sothat only their lower ends may engage the" casing, or, for that matter,none of the drag portions may engage the casing.

The expander 32 is operatively connected to a packing structure 35disposed therebelow. As shown, it is threadedly attached to a connectorsleeve 36 slidable along the body, a packing element or sleeve 37, madeof rubber or rubber-like material, being disposed on the connectorsleeve with its upper end engaging the lower end of the expander 32 anda gauge ring 38 threaded thereon, which will determine the effectiveannular clearance space with the well casing B that must be bridged bythe packing element 37 when it is expanded against the well casing. Theexpander 32 and gauge ring 38 together constitute an upper abutment forthe packing element 37. The lower end of the packing sleeve 37 engages aguide or lower abutment ring or actuator 39 which is adapted to engagean outwardly directed lower flange 41 on the connector sleeve.Threadedly secured to the guide ring 39 is a thrust sleeve or actuator41 depending therefrom, which has a lower internally threaded portion 42that initially meshes with a companion externally threaded head 43extending outwardly from and integral with the body 10 of the tool. Therelative downward position of the body 10 with respect to the thrustsleeve 41 is limited by engagement of the head 43 with an inwardlydirected flange 44 at the lower end of the thrust sleeve.

In expanding the packing element 37 against the well casing B, the guidering or lower abutment 39 is moved toward the expander or upper abutment32, 38, the guide sliding along the connector sleeve 36. Such relativemotion between the parts foreshorten the packing sleeve 37 and resultsin its outward expansion from its retracted position into sealingengagement with the wall of the well casing, as well as into sealingengagement with the periphery of the connector sleeve 36. Leakage offluid between the connector sleeve and the body 10 of the tool isprevented by a suitable side seal, such as a rubber or rubber-like ring45, mounted in a peripheral groove 46 of the body and slidably andsealingly engaging the inner surface of the connector sleeve 36.

Upward movement of the guide ring 39 toward the expander 32 can occurwhile preventing relative rotation between the connector sleeve 36 andthe thrust sleeve 41 by providing a slidable spline connection betweenthe connector sleeve and the thrust sleeve. Thus, the lower portion ofthe connector sleeve 36 has a key 47 secured therein which extendswithin an inner longitudinal keyway 48 extending substantially along thewhole length of the thrust sleeve 41. This slidable spline connectionpermits the thrust sleeve 41 and the lower guide ring 39 to moveupwardly while preventing relative turning between the connector sleeve36 and thrust sleeve 41. The key 47 is also extended inwardly so as tobe disposed under a downwardly facing body shoulder 49, in order thatdownward movement of the body 10 can engage the stop on the connectorsleeve provided by the key 47 and shift the connector sleeve 36downwardly with the body.

The expander 32 is not slidable directly upon the body member, but ispreferably mounted upon a sleeve 50 which, in turn, is slidable on thebody member 10. This sleeve is connected to the expander 32 and theconnector sleeve 36 by a shear device that is capable of being disruptedto free the sleeve from the expander and connector sleeve. As shown, thelower end of the sleeve 50 may have an outwardly projecting flange 51clamped between the expander 32 and the upper end of the connectorsleeve 36. Shearing of this flange will permit the sleeve 50 to shiftupwardly and come into engagement with the lower end of the slip ring18, in the manner described hereinbelow. The sleeve 50 has the purposeof providing an annular space 52 between the connector sleeve andexpander and the periphery of the body member 10, enabling the bodymember to move upwardly within the connector sleeve 36 and expander 32as explained hereinbelow, until an upwardly facing shoulder 53 on thebody engages the lower end of the shear ring or sleeve 50. The upwardforce imposed on the body member 10 will then be transmitted through theshear ring or sleeve and its flange 51 to the expander 32, and from theexpander to the slips 16, to hold the latter outwardly in anchoringengagement with the well casing. In the event the flange 51 is shearedfrom the sleeve 50, the body 10 can move upwardly with the sleeve untilthe latter engages the lower end of the slip ring 18, to move the entireslip structure upwardly with the body, as described hereinbelow.

In order to expand the anchoring portion 19 of the slips and the packingstructure 35 against the well casing, the expander 32 must be movedupwardly behind the anchoring portions 19. Initially, such relativemovement is prevented by a control mechanism 55 between the slipstructure and the body of the tool. As shown, the control mechanismincludes a slot or groove structure 56 provided in the exterior of thebody 10 and adapted to receive a lock pin 57 carried by the slip stopring 26. This lock pin may be disposed in the holding portion 58 of theslot structure which is displaced arcuately to one side of alongitudinal slot portion 59, into which the pin 57 can be movedrelatively by being shifted from its holding portion 53 through ahorizontal portion 60 to the upper end of the longitudinal slot portion59. The lower end 61 of the longitudinal slot is tapered in a downwardand outward direction to shift the lock pin 57 outwardly of the slot orgroove structure 56 and permit it to slide upon the periphery of thebody 10 of the tool. To enable such radial or lateral shifting of thelock pin 57, it is yieldedly mounted in the stop ring 26. Thus, the lockpin 57 is slidable radially within a guide screw 62 that is threadedradially in the stop ring. A helical compression spring 63 is disposedin the guide screw, its inner end engaging the outer end of the lock pin57 and its outer end engaging the guide screw 62, which also functionsas a spring seat. The spring 63 normally urges the lock pin 57 inwardly.However, when moved relatively down along the longitudinal leg 59 of theslot 56, it will engage its lower tapered or cam end 61 and be urgedoutwardly against the force of the spring 63, the lock pin then ridingupon the periphery of the body 11 In the use of the apparatus, the partsare first disposed in the relative positions shown in FIGS. 1 and la, inwhich the lock pin 57 is disposed in the lock portion 58 of the slot orgroove 56. This locking location will prevent longitudinal movement ofthe entire slip structure along the body of the tool 10, such that theslip structure is carried downwardly with the body of the tool, theanchor portions 19 of the slips 16 being disposed inwardly. The downwardmovement of the body 10 is transmitted through the threaded connection43, 42 to the thrust sleeve 41, the guide ring 39 engaging the flange 40of the connector sleeve 36 to pull the connector sleeve and the expander32 downwardly with it, the packing element 37 then occupying itsretracted position. The apparatus is lowered in the well casing with thedrag portions 21 of the slips sliding along the wall of the well casingand with the expander 32, packing structure 35 and thrust sleeve 41moving downwardly with the body, the parts being retained in thepositions shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a.

When the location in the well casing is reached at which the apparatusis to be anchored in packed-off condition therewithin, the tubing stringC and the body 10 of the tool are turned to the left. Since turning ofthe entire slip structure is resisted by the frictional engagement ofthe drag portions 21 against the wall of the well casing, such left-handturning will result in an arcuate shifting of the slot portion 56 of thebody to the left to place the lock pin 57 in alignment with thedepending leg portion 59 of the slot structure. The tubing string C cannow be elevated which will elevate the body 10 of the tool and the partsof the tool surrounding the body below the slips 16, the slip structurebeing prevented from moving upwardly by the frictional engagement of thedrag portions 21 against the wall of the well casing. The body of thetool is moved upwardly until the expander 32 moves upwardly behind theanchor portions d9 of the slips, rocking the slips on their dragportions 21 to shift the anchor portions 19 outwardly into anchoringengagement with the wall of the well casing, the drag portions moving inthe opposite or inward direction.

After the expander 32 has been wedged behind the anch-or portions '19 itcannot move outwardly to any further extent. Accordingly, a continuationof the upward movement of the body it? will carry the thrust sleeve 41upwardly with it, causing the lower abutment 39 to move toward the upperabutment and expander 38, 32 for the purpose of *fioreshor-tening thepacking sleeve 37 and expanding it outwardly against the wall of thewell casing, such as disclosed in FIG. 2. The apparatus has now beenanchored in packed-off condition against upward movement in the wellcasing. The desired operation can now be per-termed. Thus, if cementslurry is to be squeezed into the well bore, the required quantity orcharge of slurry is pumped down the tubing string C, passing downwardlythrough the tool A and discharging into the well easing B at a pointtherebelow for movement into the torination or behind the casing. On theother hand, if the iormation is to be hydraulically fractured or an acidtreatment performed, the necessary fiuid or fluent material is pumpeddown the tubing string C, passing through the apparatus A, thenoutwardly thereof into the formation. The particular fluent materialemployed can be io-rce-d under relatively high pressures into theformation, the well packer A preventing passage of fluid upwardly aroundthe tool, the well packer being anchored against the well casing by thecoaction between the expander 32 and the slips 16.

If desired, the formation can be tested as by swabbing the tubing stringC. Maintenance of a suitable upward strain on the tubing string C willretain the packer anchored in packed ofi condition in the well casing,preventing the annular column of fluid in the tubing-casing annulus 70above the well packer from being imposed on the diormation. The tubingcan be swabbed to the proper extent, to effect the desired test of theproducing formation in the well bore.

If the apparatus is to be used merely as a packer, its operation asdescribed above is all that is necessary for it to be anchored in packedoif condition in the well casing. To release the packer A and remove itfrom the well bore, the tubing string C and body it) are moveddownwardly to shifit the lower abutment 39 away from the upper abutment-32, 33, allowing the packing sleeve 37 to retract inherently. When thelower abutment 3? engages the connector sleeve flange 44 it pulls theconnector sleeve 36 and the expander 32. downwardly, the expander movingaway from the anchor portions 19 of the slips, allowing the springs 22to rock the drag portions 21 back into 'full engagement with the wall ofthe well casing, and the anchor portions 19 inwardly away from the wallof the well casing. The packing structure 35 and the slip structure havethus been released from the well casing and can be retained in suchreleased position by relocating the lock pin 57 back in the control slotstructure 56, the body being appropriately turned to place the lock pinback in the locking portion 58 of the slot structure at the upper endthereof, The well packer is now in its initial retracted position (FIGS.1, 1a) and can be moved to a new setting location in the well casing, ifdesired; or can be removed entirely from the well casing. Duringelevation of the apparatus in the well casing, relative upward movementof the expander 32 toward the anchor portions '19 is prevented by thetact that the slip structure is connected to the body 10 of the' toolthrough the agency of the lock pin 57.

After the apparatus has been anchored in packed-cit condition in thewell casing, and the desired operation performed in the Well bore withthe apparatus operating as a well packer, it can be converted, whileremaining in its setting location, into an anchor by rendering thepacking structure 35 ineffective, the expander 32 and slip structure '16still remaining in anchored condition against the wall of the wellcasing. To eflect the conversion of the tool to an anchor, the slips 16are set in the positions disclosed in FIG. 2 by maintaining an upwardstrain on the tubing string C and body 10 of the tool, which, forexample, may be of the order of 3,000 to 5,000 pounds. The tubing stringC and body it] are then rotated in a right-hand direction. Since thethreaded connection 43, 42 between the body head and the thrust sleeve41 is preferably left-hand, the right-hand rotation oi the body and itshead 43 will result in a relative downward ieeding of the thrust sleeve41 along the body head, the lower abutment 39 moving down along theconnector sleeve 36 and away from the upper abutment and expander 38,32. until the threaded portion 42 of the thrust sleeve 41 becomescompletely unthreaded from the body head 43 and moves therebelow, thebody head then shifting into an enlarged inside diameter portion '71 ofthe thrust sleeve. The thrust sleeve 41 can then drop downwardly to itsfullest extent, as determined by engagement of the guide ring or lowerabutment 39 with the connector sleeve flange 40, the packing 37inherently shifting to its initial retracted position (FIG. 3). in fact,with an upward strain maintained on the tubing string C and body 10 ofthe tool, their right-hand rotation can, at first, produce upwardthreading of the head 43 in the sleeve 41, and elevation of the bodywithin the packing structure 35, until the shoulder 53 engages the lowerend of the shear sleeve 5h. Thereafter, continued rotation of the tubingstring C and body '10 produces downward feeding of the thrust sleeve 41until its threaded portion 42 is completely unthreaded from the bodyhead 43, the sleeve 41 dropping downwardly to its fullest extent, asshown in FIG. 3. During rotation of the tubing string C and body it ofthe tool, the thrust sleeve 4-1 is prevented from rotating, since it hasthe spline connection 47, 48 with the connector sleeve 36, which isprevented from rotating by the wedging action of the expander 32 behindthe anchored slips 16.

The packing unit 35 of the apparatus is thereby rendered ineffective,and the tubing string C and body 10 of the tool are movable upward-1yuntil the upwardly f acing body shoulder 53 engages the shear ring orsleeve 56. An upward strain then taken on the tubing string C and bodyit would be transmitted through the expander 32 to the anchor portions19 of the slips 16, the expander holding such slips outwardly inanchoring engagement with the wall of the well casing. If the expander32 has dropped down away from the slips as during the unthreadin-g ofthe thrust sleeve 41 from the body head 43, upward movement of thetubing string C and body it! will bring the body shoulder 53 against theshear ring sleeve 50, the expander 32 then moving upwardly behind theslips 16, which are prevented from moving upwardly by the frictionalengagement of the drag portions 21 against the wall of the well casingB. The desired tension can now be taken on the tubing string C, whichwill be transmitted directly from the body 10 through the shear sleeve50 to the expander 32, and then through the slips 16 to the wall of thewell casing. The maintenance of the tubing string C in tension at thedesired value will eliminate tubing buckling and breathing resultingnrom reciprocation of the pumping unit, mounted at a desired locationinthe tubing string, under the action of the usual sucker rods connectedthereto and extending through the tubing string C irom the pumping unitat the top of the well bore.

It is, therefore, apparent that the packer has been readily converted toan anchor without the necessity for removing any apparatus from the wellbore. Thus, a round trip has been saved, with resulting economies due 7to the fact that a single tool has been provided for performing both apacker function and an anchor function, eliminating the necessity forremoving a packer firom the well casing and then running an anchorthereinto when the tubing string is to be maintained in tension,particularly in a pumping well.

In the event the apparatus, now converted to an anchor, is to be removedfrom the well bore, it is merely necessary to lower the tubing string Cand the body 19 of the tool. Such lowering action will result in a.downward movement of the body until the threads on the head 43 engagethe uppermost thread on the thrust sleeve portion 42, the downwardmovement then being transmitted through the guide ring 33 to theconnector sleeve 36, and from the latter to the expander 32, shittingthe expander downwardly away from the slips 16 and allowing the springs22 to rock the drag portions 21 outwardly and the anchor portions 19inwardly away from the well casing. The body is manipulated until thelock pin 57 is again disposed in the control groove or slot 56, the bodybeing turned to position the pin in the locking portion 58 of the slot.When this occurs, the tubing string C and body 10 can be elevated, theslip structure being retained in its upper position. on the body it) andthe body shoulder 53 moving upwardly to engage the shear sleeve 50 andcarry the expander 32 and connector sleeve 36 upwardly with it. Theflange 40 on the connector sleeve will engage the guide ring 39 to carrythe thrust sleeve 41 upwardly with it.

In the event that the tool will not release satisfactorily, permittingthe lock pin 57 to be relocated in the lock portion 58 of the controlslot 56, a sufficient upward strain is taken on the tubing string C andbody 10, with the expander 32 disposed behind the slips r16, to shearthe flange 51 of the shear sleeve 50 from the remainder of the shearsleeve. The body can then move the shear sleeve 50 upwardly until itengages the lower end of the slip ring 18. An upward force can then beimposed on the slip ring 18, which is transmitted through theencompassing ring 28 to the slips l6, forcing the slips upwardly withrespect to the expander 32 and allowing the springs 22 to shift the dragportions 2 1 outwardly and the anchor portions 19 of the slips inwardly.The apparatus can now be removed from the well bore, the parts occupyingthe positions shown in FIG. 4. The threaded head 43 on the body willengage the lower end of the connector sleeve 36 to carry such connectorsleeve and expander 32 upwardly, the connector sleeve flange 40 engagingthe guide ring 39 to carry it, together with the thrust sleeve 41connected thereto, upwardly. The apparatus can now be elevated withinand removed from the well casing C, with the anchor portions 19 of theslips 16 remaining in their retracted position.

It is to be noted that the safety shear portion 51 of the apparatus isonly subject to strain after the apparatus has been converted from apacker to an anchor. Thus, relatively high pressures that might beimposed on the fluid in the well bore when the apparatus is functioningas a packer are not imposed on the shear device. It is only when theapparatus has been converted to an anchor that the upstrain on theapparatus is transmitted through the shear ring 51 to the expander 32.This upstrain can be controlled and is kept at the desired value, whichis normally well below the yield point of the tubing string C, so thatthe latter is not subjected to a strain beyond its elastic limit.

The inventors claim:

1. In well apparatus of the type adapted to be disposed in a well casingon a running-in string and wherein a body is anchored to the well casingby gripping means engaging the latter, there being packing means on thebody adapted to be expanded against the well casing, the combinationtherewith of actuating means on the body engaging said packing means toexpand said packing means against the casing, means on said body adaptedto be actuated to release said actuating means to permit said packingmeans to retract from expanded position, and means on said body engagingsaid gripping means for retaining said gripping means engaged with thecasing while said packing means is in its retracted position.

2. In well apparatus of the type adapted to be disposed in a well casingon a running-in string and wherein a body is anchored to the well casingby gripping means engaging the latter, there being packing means on thebody adapted to be expanded against the well casing, the combinationtherewith of actuating means on the body engaging said packing means toexpand said packing means against the casing, means on said bodyresponsive to movement of said body to release said actuating means topermit said packing means to retract from expanded position, and meanson said body engaging said gripping means for retaining said grippingmeans engaged with the casing while said packing means is in itsretracted position.

3. In well apparatus of the type adapted to be disposed in a well casingon a running-in string and wherein a body is anchored to the well casingby normally retracted gripping means expanded into engagement with thecasing in response to longitudinal movement of the body in onedirection, there being packing means on the body adapted to be expandedagainst the well casing, the combination therewith of actuating meansmovable in response to longitudinal movement of said body in said onedirection to expand said packing means against the casing; meansresponsive to movement of said body to release said actuating means topermit said packing means to retract from expanded position, and meanson said body engaging said gripping means for retaining said grippingmeans engaged with the casing while said packing means is in retractedposition to anchor said body against movement in said one direction.

4. In Well apparatus of the type adapted to be disposed in a well casingon a running-in string and wherein a body has normally retracted packingmeans thereon and is anchored to the casing by means shifting anexpander on the body into engagement with normally retracted slips toexpand them into anchoring engagement with the casing, the combinationtherewith of actuating means on the body engaging said normallyretracted packing means to expand said packing means against the casing,means on said body adapted to be actuated to release said actuatingmeans and permit said packing means to retract from expanded position,and means on said body engaging said expander for retaining saidexpander engaged with said slips in casing anchoring position while saidpacking means is in its retracted position.

5. In well apparatus of the type adapted to be disposed in a well casingon a running-in string and wherein a body has normally retracted packingmeans thereon and is anchored to the casing by means shifting anexpander above the packing means upwardly into engagement with normallyretracted slips to expand them into anchoring engagement with thecasing, the combination therewith of actuating means movable upwardly onthe body and engaging said normally retracted packing means to expandthe packing means against the casing, means on said body adapted to beactuated to release said actuating means and permit said packing meansto retract from expanded position, and means on said body engaging saidexpander for transmitting an upwardly directed force to said expander toretain said expander engaged with said slips in casing anchoringposition while said packing means is in its retracted position.

6. In well apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well casing on arunning-in string: a body; normally retracted slips on said body; anexpander on said body engageable with said slips; normally retractedpacking means on said body; actuating means movable in response tolongitudinal movement of said body to expand said packing means againstthe casing and to shift said expander into engagement with said slips toexpand them against the casing and retain said slips and packing meansexpanded against the casing; means responsive to additional movement ofsaid body to release said actuating means to permit said packing meansto retract from expanded position and means on said body engaging saidexpander for retaining said expander engaged with said slips with saidslips in casing anchoring position while said packing means is in itsretracted position.

7. In well apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well casing on arunning-in string: a body; normally retracted slips on said body; anexpander on said body engageable with said slips; normally retractedpacking means on said body; actuating means movable in response tolongitudinal movement of said body to expand said packing means againstthe casing and to shift said expander into engagement with said slips toexpand them against the casing and retain said slips and packing meansexpanded against the casing; means responsive to rotation of said bodyto release said actuating means to permit said packing means to retractfrom expanded position; and means on said body engaging said expanderfor retaining said expander engaged with said slips with said slips incasing anchoring position after said body has been rotated to permitretraction of said packing means and while said packing means is in itsretracted position.

8. In well apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well casing on arunning-in string: a body; normally retracted slips on said body; anexpander on said body engageable with said slips; normally retractedpacking means on said body; actuating means movable in response tolongitudinal movement of said body to expand said packing means againstthe casing and acting through said packing means to shift said expanderinto engagement with said slips to expand them against the casing andretain said slips and packing means expanded against the casing; meansresponsive to additional movement of said body to release said actuatingmeans to permit said packing means to retract from expanded position;and means on said body engaging said expander for retaining saidexpander engaged with said slips with said slips in casing anchoringposition while said packing means is in its retracted position.

9. In well apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well casing on arunning-in string: a body; normally retracted slips on said body; anexpander on said body engageable with said slips; a normally retractedpacking structure on said body comprising upper and lower abutments andpliant, elastic packing means between and engageable with saidabutments; actuating means movable in response to longitudinal movementof said body to shift one of said abutments toward said other abutmentto expand said packing means against the casing, said actuating meansacting through said packing structure to shift said expander intoengagement with said slips to expand said slips against the casing andretain said slips and packing means expanded against the casing; meansresponsive to additional movement of said body to release said actuatingmeans and permit movement of said abutments away from each other topermit retraction of said packing means from expanded position; andmeans on said body engaging said expander for retaining said expanderengaged with said slips with said slips in casing anchoring positionwhile said packing means is in its retracted position.

10. In well apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well casing on arunning-in string: a body; normally retracted slips on said body; anexpander on said body engageable with said slips; a normally retractedpacking structure on said body comprising upper and lower abutments andpliant, elastic packing means between and engageable with saidabutments; actuating means movable in response to longitudinal movementof said body to shift one of said abutments toward said other abutmentto expand said packing means against the casing, said actuating meansacting through said packing structure to shift said expander intoengagement with said slips to expand said slips againstthe casing andretain said slips and packing means expanded against the casing; meansincluding threaded means relatively rotatable by said body to releasesaid actuating means and permit movement of said abutments away fromeach other to permit retraction of said packing means from expandedposition; and means on said body engaging said expander for retainingsaid expander engaged with said slips with said slips in casinganchoring position while said packing means is in its retractedposition.

11. In well apparatus adapted to be disposed in a Well casing on arunning-in string: a body; normally retracted slips on said body; anexpander on said body engageable with said slips; a normally retractedpacking structure on said body comprising upper and lower abutments andpliant, elastic packing means between and engageable with said abutment;actuating means movable in response to longitudinal movement of saidbody to shift one of said abutments toward said other abutment to expandsaid packing means against the casing, said actuating means actingthrough said packing structure to shift said expander into engagementwith said slips to expand said slips against the casing and retain saidslips and packing means expanded against the casing; threaded meansconnected to one of said abutments; threaded means meshing with saidother threaded means and rotatable relative thereto by said body torelease said actuating means and permit movement of said abutments awayfrom each other to permit retraction of said packing means from expandedposition; and means on said body engaging said expander for retainingsaid expander engaged with said slips with said slips in casinganchoring position while said packing means is in its retractedposition.

12. In well apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well casing on arunning-in string: a body; normally retracted slips on said body; anexpander on said body below and engageable with said slips; a normallyretracted packing structure on said body below said expander comprisingan upper abutment secured to said expander, a lower abutment, andpliant, elastic packing means between and engageable with saidabutments; actuating means connected to said lower abutment and movablein response to upward movement of said body to shift said lower abutmentupwardly toward said upper abutment to expand said packing means againstthe casing, said actuating means acting through said packing structureto shift said expander upwardly into engagement with said slips toexpand and anchor said slips against the casing to prevent their upwardmovement therewithin and retain said slips and packing means against thecasing; means responsive to additional movement of said body to releasesaid actuating means and permit movement of said abutments away fromeach other and retraction of said packing means from expanded position;and means on said body engaging said expander for transmitting upwardlydirected strains on said body through said expander to said slips tohold said slips anchored to the casing against upward movementtherewithin while said packing means is in its retracted position.

13. In well apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well casing on arunning-in string: a body; normally retracted slips on said body; anexpander on said body below and engageable with said slips; a normallyretracted packing structure on said body below said expander comprisingan upper abutment secured to said expander, a lower abutment, andpliant, elastic packing means between and engageable with saidabutments; actuating means connected. to said lower abutment and movablein response to upward movement of said body to shift said lower abutmentupwardly toward said upper abutment to expand said packing means againstthe casing, said actuating means acting through said packing structureto shift said expander upwardly into engagement with said slips toexpand and anchor said slips against the casing to prevent their upwardmovement therewithin and retain said slips and packing means against thecasing; a threaded member secured to said lower abutment; a threadedmember meshing with said threaded member and rotatable by said body withrespect to said other threaded member to release said actuating meansand permit movement of said abutments away from each other andretraction of said packing means from expanded position; and means onsaid body engaging said expander to retain said expander engaged withsaid slips with said slips in casing anchoring position while saidpacking means is in its retracted position.

'14. In well apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well casing on arunning-in string: a body; normally retracted slips on said body; anexpander on said body below and engageable with said slips; a normallyretracted packing structure on said body below said expander comprisingan upper abutment secured to said expander, a lower abutment, andpliant, elastic packing means between and engageable with saidabutments; actuating means connected to said lower abutment and movablein response to upward movement of said body to shift said lower abutmentupwardly toward said upper abutment to expand said packing means againstthe casing, said actuating means acting through said packing structureto shift said expander upwardly into engagement with said slips toexpand and anchor said slips against the casing to prevent their upwardmovement therewithin and retain said slips and packing means against thecasing; a threaded member secured to said lower abutment; a threadedmember meshing with said other threaded member and rotatable by saidbody with respect to said other threaded member to release saidactuating means and permit movement of said abutments away from eachother and retraction of said packing means; and means acting betweensaid body and expander and including a frangible connection throughwhich upwardly directed strains on said body are transmitted to saidexpander to hold said expander engaged with said slips to hold saidslips anchored to the casing against upward movement therewithin whilesaid packing means is in its retracted position.

15. In well apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well casing on arunning-in string: a body; normally retracted slips on said body; anexpander on said body below and engageable with said slips; a connectorsleeve secured to and depending from said expander; a lower abutmentslidable on said connector sleeve; normally retracted pliant, elasticpacking means on said connector sleeve between and engageable with saidexpander and lower abutment; an actuator secured to said lower abutmentand depending therefrom, said actuator having threaded means thereon;threaded means on said body engaging said threaded means on saidactuator whereby upward movement of said body will shift said expanderagainst the slips to expand the slips into anchoring engagement with thewell casing and will move said lower abutment toward said expander toexpand said normally retracted packing means against the casing andretain said slips and packing means against the casing, rotation of saidbody effecting downward threading of said actuator along said body toshift said lower abutment downwardly away from said expander to permitretraction of said packing means; and means acting between said body andexpander while said packing means is in its retracted position fortransmitting upwardly directed strains on said body to said expander tohold said expander behind said slips with the slips in anchoringengagement with the well casing.

16. In well apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well casing on arunning-in string: a body; normally retracted slips on said body; anexpander on said body below and engageable with said slips; a connectorsleeve secured to and depending from said expander; a lower abutmentslidable on said connector sleeve; normally retracted pliant, elasticpacking means on said connector sleeve between and engageable with saidexpander and lower abutment; an actuator secured to said lower abutmentand depending therefrom, said actuator having threaded means thereon;threaded means on said body engaging said threaded means on saidactuator whereby upward movement of said body will shift said expanderagainst the slips to expand the slips into anchoring engagement with thewell casing and will move said lower abutment toward said expander toexpand said normally retracted packing means against the casing andretain said slips and packing means against the casing, rotation of saidbody effecting downward threading of said actuator along said body toshift said lower abutment downwardly away from said expander to permitretraction of said packing means; frangible means secured to saidexpander; and means on said body engaging said frangible means whilesaid packing means is in its retracted position to transmit upwardlydirected strains imposed on said body to said expander to hold saidexpander engaged against said slips and said slips anchored against thewell casing, said frangible means being disruptable when subjected to apredetermined upwardly directed strain imposed on said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,442,529 Clark June 1, 1948 2,564,240 Ware Aug. 14, 1951 2,690,225Baker et a1 Sept. 28, 1954 2,711,795 Ragan June 28, 1955 2,715,441Bouvier Aug. 16, 1955 2,802,534 Conrad Aug. 13, 1957

